The Influenza Pandemic 1918 By Will CS What
The Influenza Pandemic 1918 By Will CS
What was the Spanish Flu? Mutated flu virus that came from birds and poultry Infected 1/3 of the world’s population. Death estimates range from 20 -100 million people worldwide Also called ‘La Grippe’ Mortality rate of 2. 5% Rate of infection of 2
Famous people who caught the virus David Lloyd George (UK PM) Woodrow Wilson (US President) Mahatma Ghandi Walt Disney Kaiser Wilhelm II (King of Germany) Mary Pickford (film star) Franklin D. Roosevelt Haile Selassie I (Emperor of Ethiopia) Alfonso XIII (King of Spain) Clementine Churchill Leo Szilard (key figure in the Manhattan Project)
Who did it effect? Virus was most dangerous to those with strong, healthy immune systems Half of all deaths between 20 -40 year olds 99% of deaths under the age of 65
Killed 20 -40 year olds 20 x more Why was it more dangerous than normal flu? Far higher mortality rate More infectious No herd immunity
What were the symptoms? Headache Fatigue Muscle and joint pain Loss of appetite Fever Internal drowning (Pneumonia)
What were the responses? MASS GATHERINGS BANNED PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS CLOSED EDUCATION PROGRAMMES ON GENERAL HYGIENE ISOLATION OF VICTIMS
Medical Recommendations THERE WERE NO VACCINES NOR ANTIBIOTICS ANTISEPTIC CLEANSING ASPIRIN KEEP WELL RESTED KEEP WARM KEEP WELL NOURISHED
Why is it called Spanish flu? Media blackouts First reported in neutral Spanish media Believed it came from the French trenches
Role in WW 1 Many belief highly cramped and infectious conditions aided the virus The mobilisation and demobilisation of armies accelerated its spread worldwide Combined with the Allied blockade of Germany it is thought the virus led to German surrender This is because the virus hit Germany hard This led to a decreased morale and a significantly weakened work force and army As such the Germans were forced to surrender Mass celebrations as a result of armistice accelerated spread (right)
What are the similarities with COVID-19? Both COVID-19 and Spanish Flu were novel diseases Neither had a vaccine Neither had herd immunity Both highly infectious Both global pandemics Both had/will have significant economics effects
Sources Centres for Disease Control and Prevention Britannica Historic UK History. com Washington Post University of Minnesota (CIDRAP) Stanford University (Molly Billings, 1997) National Geographic Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis Medicine Net The National Archives The Open University National Centre for Biotechnology (USA)
Sources JS Oxford JM Barry Mark Humphries JK Taubenberger Edwin Jordan A Crosby (Forgotten Pandemic) JN Hays (The Burdens of Disease: Epidemics and Human Response in Western History) Howard Phillips (New Perspectives)
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